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Gardner served as the executive director of the University of New Orleans Alumni Association and the director of the Office of Alumni Affairs from 2001 until her hire at Loyola. In this position, Gardner was responsible for maintaining relationships and communication with more than 67,000 alumni. Prior to her position at UNO, Gardner was an attorney with Hoffman, Sutterfield, Ensenat and Bankston.

Gardner, a New Orleans native, has more than 12 years of experience in nonprofit administration, event planning, fundraising, and educating, training and supervising volunteers.

Gardner graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Vassar College, an MBA from the University of New Orleans and a law degree from Tulane University.

Gardner is an active member of the New Orleans volunteer community, having led various committees and councils of the Junior League of New Orleans since 1992, including Teen Court, Safe Sitter and Project Processing, which evaluates grant applications for community programs. From 1998 to 2000, Gardner served on the board of directors of Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana.

Gardner’s great-uncle, the Rev. Harold Gaudin, S.J., was the seventh president of Loyola University New Orleans.